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COVID-19 Update-Refunds

May 20, 2020

Hi Bellies Family,

As always, we hope you are all staying healthy and safe. We are encouraged by the progress our province has made in flattening the Covid-19 curve, and thank all of our front-line health care workers, first responders and those working in essential roles, for their heroics on our behalf.

While the Province’s plans to carefully, gradually ease Covid-19 restrictions continue, it has become apparent that a return to the sport of box lacrosse will not happen this summer. Though at this time there has been no official decision from the CLA, our executive has voted unanimously to cancel the 2020 box lacrosse season in conjunction with other Lower Mainland lacrosse associations.

Our lacrosse families will receive a 100% refund of 2020 Box Lacrosse registration fees. The only funds that will not be returned are the try-out fees for A Team Evaluations, as these sessions did take place and the floor time was paid for. All refunds will be issued by cheque, regardless of original means of payment, to avoid the high cost of credit card processing fees.

While our executive is united in this decision, it does not come without careful deliberation. Our Association is a non-profit organization that operates on a very tight budget. Though the box season will not proceed, our Association has nonetheless incurred costs and expenses that we remain responsible for. We’ll have some tough choices to make as we manage our budget going forward, but feel this is the right thing to do for our member families.

The CLA, BCLA and other bodies governing the sport continue to work on ideas to get our athletes back on the field in a safe, physically distanced manner. However, any return to play this summer will not resemble the sport of box lacrosse for which you registered your child. We know these times are difficult for everyone, and you are as eager to see a return to normalcy as we are. We sincerely hope that when a return to play is possible, we’ll see you and your children back at the field, arena, or box alongside us. Moving forward we’ll keep you updated with any news or information from our governing bodies.

Warm regards,

Rich Catton

PresidentNWMLA

April 17, 2020

Hi Bellies Family,

We hope you’re all staying healthy and safe, as we all do our part to help flatten the COVID-19 curve.

As announced previously, all formal lacrosse activities remain on hold until at least May 15th. While we remain hopeful that we’ll be able to hit the floor in some format, that remains far from certain. The CLA, BCLA and Lower Mainland Minor Lacrosse Commission continue to monitor the situation and discuss plans for the possible resumption of lacrosse, should it be deemed appropriate by the relevant government authorities. We, as your Executive, are doing the same.

Recently, we've received a few inquiries regarding the refund of registration fees. As resumption of lacrosse activity remains a possibility, the Club may yet be responsible for floor times, BCLA and league fees etc. As a result, we are unable to make a plan for potential refunds until final decisions on the season are made by our governing bodies.

We appreciate your patience in these uncertain times, and will continue to provide updates as they come available.

Warm regards,

Rich Catton
President - NWMLA

BC Lacrosse Association Update

March 26, 2020

March 25, 2020

LETTER FROM THE BCLA PRESIDENT RE: COVID‐19

Dear BCLA Members:

As we continue to navigate through the implications of COVID-19, we hope that you are coping

with the ever-changing environment that is the world right now.

It is too early for anyone to make a call on whether or not the box lacrosse season, or some

format of the season, will take place. So, because we have no idea of what is going to happen

over the next several weeks, we are taking a wait-and-see approach at this time

We urge all of our members to take this same approach. It is too early for any

association/club/league to make any firm decisions about their seasons at this time. We need to

protect the future of the not only the BC Lacrosse Association, but all of our member

associations/teams/leagues. We believe cancelling the box lacrosse season is premature. It is a

drastic step that would be detrimental to the sport of lacrosse in BC as we hope to facilitate some

form of box lacrosse competition this summer.

The BCLA insurance is still in place, and the BCLA office is still fully operational, albeit mostly

remotely. Most minor box athletes have stepped on the floor which put the insurance into play.

So, I would assume that if refunds are necessary (if there is absolutely no box season), the

refunds will be a portion of, to cover both portions of the BCLA’s fees and the minor association

expenses incurred.

We are in communication with the BCLA Minor and Senior Directorates, and they are

discussing contingency plans that include looking at new alternatives for lacrosse activities in

2020.

You will continue to hear about major events being cancelled, many that were supposed to occur

in the summer of 2020. Most recently, the BC Games Society just announced that they have

cancelled the BC Summer Games that were going to happen in Maple Ridge in July 2020; and

the 2020 North American Indigenous Games event has also been cancelled. This does not mean

that sport will not happen this summer.

For now, in the same way that we are asking for patience and calmness from our member

association/club/leagues, we ask that you reach out to your community members to do the same.

Yours in Lacrosse,

Gerry Van Beek

BCLA President

**UPDATED April 03/20**A Message From Rich Catton, NWMLA President About COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

March 13, 2020

Updated April 03, 2020

Hi Bellies,

I hope you're all staying healthy and safe during these uncertain times. Based on recent direction from both the BCLA and CLA, all lacrosse activities will remain on hold until at least May 1st. While we remain hopeful that some semblance of a season can be salvaged, we will continue to prioritize public health and safety. We encourage you to continue to follow the advice of our public health officials - stay home and practice physical distancing. As updates become available, we'll be sure to share them with you.

Best regards,

Rich Catton
President, Minor Bellies

Updated March 14, 2020

Please read message below from NWMLA President Rich Catton:

Subsequent to the Covid-19 update we emailed to our membership earlier today, the Canadian Lacrosse Association issued a recommendation that all lacrosse activity in Canada be postponed until April 5th.

In the interests of the safety of our players, coaches, officials, staff and fans, the Minor Salmonbellies will follow this recommendation.

We will continue to closely monitor COVID-19 developments in consultation with the CLA, BCLA, and public health authorities, and provide updates.

Posted March 13, 2020

A message from Rich Catton, NWMLA President about COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

As per the recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is now a pandemic. The situation both here in BC and around the globe is changing hourly and daily, and we wanted to provide an update on how the New Westminster Minor Lacrosse Association (NWMLA) is responding.

We’re lucky to have had strong leadership from the province’s public health officials. This is why we’re basing our response on the expert advice of those organizations, as well as the BC Lacrosse Association and the Canadian Lacrosse Association. While, like you, we are concerned about the turn of events in the last 48 hours, the risk level to Canada and British Columbia remains low as defined by the leading health authorities.

Despite that assurance, we know the situation will evolve. We want to assure you that the NWMLA is taking steps to ensure that the health and safety of our players is paramount.

We are in the early stages on the 2020 Box Lacrosse season with evaluations nearing completion. As such we will continue to proceed with completing evaluations, balancing teams and beginning the process of scheduling games and practices.

We will also be taking further steps, including:

No handshaking after games

No shared water bottles

Some may ask why we don’t go further at this point. The simple reason is as stated above: we are committed to following the advice from federal and provincial public health agencies and right now this is based on what they’re advising.

As the situation evolves locally and the risk level changes, we will respond accordingly, whether that’s further restrictions on practices and / or games, or postponing the season.

As for what players and parents / guardians can continue to do:

Keep following the recommended practices, such as washing your hands more frequently with soap and water, using proper coughing & sneezing etiquette

If you or your child is ill, please stay home

If you think you have coronavirus-type respiratory symptoms or have travelled to a country with a travel health notice, immediately speak to a medical professional or call 811

If you are returning from a trip outside of Canada, please follow the 2 week self quarantine period recommended by government health authorities

There is a ton of information in the news and online about the virus, some factual and some not. It’s important to make sure what we’re consuming comes from credible health sources (the links below offer a few good ones).

We understand that we’re all anxious and that right now things are changing

quickly. Thankfully, this province has some of the leading public health institutions and testing practices. We’ll continue to monitor and update you on the situation as it pertains to the NWMLA.

If you have any questions about what we’re doing at NWMLA, please reach out to either of the board members listed below.

Wall Ball Challenge

*CONTEST TIME*
With most of us home for Spring Break and organized activities on pause, you can stay ready for the season by...HITTING THE WALL!

Send us a video of you and your most creative wall ball work out for a chance to win some cool Bellies swag! The Winner will be announced after Spring Break.

Keep that stick in hand - box lax will be back Bellies!

Bellies Store At The Hazelwood Clinic

February 19, 2020

The Bellies Store will be selling a small selection of youth sized hoodies, t-shirts and shorts at the Hazelwood Clinic this year. February 19th only from 6-8pm.
Come check it out!

Coaches For 2020 Box Lacrosse Needed!

January 09, 2020

NWMLA is always on the lookout for great coaches! If you have coached before or are interested in coaching during the 2020 box lacrosse season please fill out the coaches application form. Scan and send completed forms to headcoach@minorbellies.com. All training is covered by NWMLA and no prior experience is necessary.

Candidates are selected from the ranks of team coaches, irrespective of division level, league or winning record. They are judged on their accomplishments of instilling playing ability, sportsmanship and competitiveness in their players. NWMLA are very proud of our coaches!

Julie Edgar and Steve Porter were also presented with the President's Award which is given out by BCLA member organizations to thank individuals that demonstrate the spirit of volunteerism within their organization.